Life Lately February 2026

 I realize it is almost April, but here are some life moments from the month of February.  

 

I started the month by meeting a dear friend for coffee. We had a long visit trying to catch up on all that took place while we had been gone to the States. 

 

We enjoyed watching the Olympics. 

 

 

We made a drive into Guatemala City to renew Cruz's Guatemalan passport. 

 

 

We celebrated Valentine's Day.  Here we are having a date night meal at Pappy's BBQ. 

 

 

Ben made a few visits to the climbing gym.  On this visit he took his friend Ethan. 

 

 

On this visit he took his friend Joshua (who is not pictured).

 

 

I packed away the Valentine's decorations and now have our house ready for Easter. 

  

 

Cruz translating at youth group. 

 

 

In his cooking class during February he made a mud pie (chocolate pie), cream cheese brownies, a key lime cheese cake, and a puffy omelet.  He makes one recipe each week.   

 

 

I made a roast for the first time in Guatemala. 

 

I also tried a new recipe for a sausage and egg breakfast casserole.  It was delicious! 

 

 

I made blueberry ricotta pancakes for the first time.  This was another delicious new recipe. 

 

my pancakes 

 

Ben with his friend Josue matching at church. 

 

 

I celebrated my birthday.   

 

Lastly, we ended the month attending the annual Intermissions Conference at beautiful Lake Atitlan. Here is a group photo from this year's conference.

 

Life Lately February 2025

 Here is a look at our family life from the month of February.

 

I took this photo on a Saturday morning walk around town. The volcanoes look like they have snow on them.

 

 

I snapped these photos on another walk I took one afternoon.  It is of the beautiful jacarandas that are in full bloom this time of year.  They are my favorite! 💜

 

 

We had lunch with some friends and enjoyed getting to catch up.  We miss getting to see those three Johnson boys on a regular basis.  Their family now lives and serves in another part of Guatemala, and we only see them a few times a year.

 

Ben with friends

 

On Super Bowl Sunday David preached at an evening service in Xenacoj.  On the drive back home we stopped in San Lucas for supper at Lai Lai, which is a Chinese restaurant chain here in Guatemala.  To our surprise, they were playing the game on their screens.

 

Ben ate using chopsticks.

 

I took this random photo because it is rare to crack open an egg and see a double yolk.

 

 

While the boys were at youth on a recent Wednesday night, David and I enjoyed a date night to our favorite BBQ restaurant in town- Pappy's.

 

 

Ben enjoyed a Saturday birthday party outing. They went to Guatemala City and did lazer tag, bowling, arcade games, visited a mall, and ate some fun foods.  They were gone from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm.  What a fun time to spend with friends!

 

 

ice cream with friends

 

birthday party fun

 

Ben at an arcade in Guatemala City.

 

 

We hosted a volunteer team from Virginia.

 

 

Ben and I went on a mother/son outing to Starbucks and the arcade.

 

 

Cruz and I took a pasta class in town.

 

 

Cruz did several fun experiments. 

 

 

We had a fun time celebrating Valentine's Day that ended with a date night.

 

 

We enjoyed the second annual Night of Candles.

 

 

We attended the annual Intermissions Conference.

 

 

I celebrated my birthday.

 

Intermissions Conference 2025

Every year on the last weekend in February we attend the Intermissions Conference.  It is held at Porta Hotel del Lago overlooking beautiful Lake Atitlan in Panajachel. The conference is designed for English speaking evangelical missionaries living and working in Guatemala. It is a time for worship, fellowship, networking, encouragement, and rest.  We love attending and look forward to it every year.

 

Our family leaving out on Friday afternoon driving to the lake.

 

Before checking in, we walked down to the lake to take some photos.

 

Those are volcanoes in the background.

 

 

 

Our program for the weekend.

  

Our speaker was Dr. Steve Moore from Portland, Oregon. Worship was led by Avenue Church in Waxahachie, TX.  We had a preschool team from Scottsdale Bible Church in Scottsdale, AZ. Lastly, the children and youth were led by additional members from Avenue Church. 

Our boys loved their youth leaders and said it was one of their favorite conferences ever.  That is always good for a parent to hear.

 

The conference also provides breakout sessions, counseling sessions, a book exchange, and coffee breaks to catch up with friends or to meet new ones.

 

Intermissions is special to our family and each one who attends.  We are thankful for this yearly event that fills us up in so many ways. 

 

Our Friday night coffee and dessert fellowship time included a fire.

 

The beautiful views on Saturday morning.

 

 

Ben headed out to class.

 

Saturday evening sunset.

 

During the conference we always have a time to remember those who have passed away in the last year.  We also recognize those who will be leaving the field before the next conference.  This year the Stones were recognized for their nearly forty years of missionary service and prayed over for their upcoming retirement.  Their plan is to retire in early May 2025.  The conference will never be quite the same to us without them.

 

The kids having fun in the pool.

 

 

How many boys can you fit in a hot tub?   Apparently many.  We are thankful for a great group of boys that our boys got to hang out with all weekend long.  What a blessing!

 

I never take many photos at the conferences.  I always go with big intentions but never end up doing it. We have many wonderful memories though that carry us through the whole year and make us eager for the following year's conference.  

 

If you serve in Guatemala and have not been attending, make plans now for the 2026 conference.  The dates are February 20-22, 2026.  We would love to see you there!!!